Service Chiefs Warn of Reduced Presence in Asia-Pacific, Smaller Forces

[unhappycamper]

http://www.seapowermagazine.org/stories/20131107-hearing.html

Service Chiefs Warn of Reduced Presence in Asia-Pacific, Smaller Forces
BY JOHN C. MARCARIO, Associate Editor
Posted: November 7, 2013 2:53 PM

ARLINGTON, Va. — In 2020, the U.S. Navy will not be able to increase its globally deployed or Asia-Pacific presence and its fleet would be around 255 ships if budget restrictions from sequestration remain intact, the chief of naval operations told a congressional hearing Nov. 7 on Capitol Hill.

“With each year of sequestration, the loss of force structure, readiness and future investments will cause our options to become increasingly constrained and drastic. Our ability to contribute to the nation’s security will be reduced,” Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert said before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The Navy’s highest ranking official outlined a number of future scenarios that would drastically alter the Department of Defense pivot to the Asia-Pacific region, saying its presence would stay around 50 ships. The original plan was to deploy nearly 60 percent of the fleet to the region by 2020.

“This would largely negate the ship force structure portion of our plan to rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region directed by the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance,” Greenert said.

[pscot]

1. Excellent

Time to start winding down The American Empire.